Dovizioso only 1.2secs off fastest lap on DTM race debut
Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso proves competitive on his DTM debut at Misano, finishing just outside the points for Audi
Ducati MotoGP rider Andrea Dovizioso left a strong impression on his car racing debut after finishing 12th in the DTM round at Misano.
Making a one-off appearance as part of the Audi Sport team – which owns the Ducati company – Dovizioso got right into the mix of the race with battles against more experienced four-wheel racers.
Working his way up to 12th position in a race of 15 finishers, Dovizioso finished just behind WRT team-mate Pietro Fittipaldi, who also happens to double up a Haas F1 test driver. Moreover, his fastest race lap would prove a mere 1.2secs slower than the quickest set all race.
Dovizioso will get another shot at the top ten tomorrow with a second race of the weekend.
Dovizioso is the latest in a line of bikers to trial car racing, including Valentino Rossi (WRC) and Casey Stoner (V8 Supercars), while the likes of Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo have also participated in F1 tests.
350cc World Champion Johnny Cecotto is particularly notable for his considerable success in touring cars after hanging up his leathers, the Venezuelan becoming a factory BMW driver during the early 1990s heyday of the German series, finishing runner-up overall in 1990.
— DTM (@DTM) June 8, 2019
